There are several advantages to using gold images to install new Oracle homes:

• You know all servers get the exact same Oracle home.
• You can install faster because you don’t need to apply all the patches.
• They fit very well with automation.
• They’re easier to test and work well with configuration management.

When you install an Oracle home using AutoUpgrade, you can also create your own gold images. Later, you can deploy the gold image to new servers.

Create Gold Image

I will use AutoUpgrade to install a new Oracle home with the desired patches and create a gold image.

1. I’ve already downloaded the patches.
2. Here’s my config file:

   global.global_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/log
   install1.download_folder=/home/oracle/patch-repo
   install1.source_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19
   install1.target_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19_32
   install1.create_gold_image=db_home_%RELEASE%_%UPDATE%_%TIMESTAMP%.zip
   install1.patch=recommended
   

   • I’ve already downloaded the patches to download_folder.
   • I want to create a new Oracle home in the target_home location.
   • AutoUpgrade copies the settings from the source_home.
   • After installing the new Oracle home, AutoUpgrade creates a gold image in download_folder. Instead of specifying the name of the gold image, I can also set create_gold_image=yes and let AutoUpgrade generate a name.
   • I set patch=recommended to get the recommended patches: latest Release Update, OPatch, MRP, OJVM, and Data Pump bundle patches.
3. I start AutoUpgrade to install the new Oracle home:

   java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config install-home.cfg -patch -mode create_home
   

   • In 19c, the installation takes longer because AutoUpgrade must apply the Release Update.
   • In 26ai, this process is much faster because Oracle delivers gold images with the latest Release Update already applied.
4. When AutoUpgrade completes, I can find the gold image in my download_folder.
5. It took 15 minutes to install the Oracle home and apply all the patches, plus five minutes to generate the gold image.

Install From Gold Image

Now I move to a different server. I need a new Oracle home and I’ll use the gold image.

1. Here’s my AutoUpgrade config file:

   global.global_log_dir=/home/oracle/autoupgrade/log
   install1.download_folder=/home/oracle/patch-repo
   install1.source_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19
   install1.target_home=/u01/app/oracle/product/19_32
   install1.patch=GOLDIMAGE:db_home_19_32_20260819113026.zip
   

   • Notice the patch parameter. I specify the gold image instead of individual patches.
2. I start AutoUpgrade to install the new Oracle home:

   java -jar autoupgrade.jar -config install-home.cfg -patch -mode create_home
   

   • AutoUpgrade extracts the gold image and performs the installation.
   • There are no patches to apply. The gold image is already up to date.
3. That’s it! I now have an Oracle home with exactly the same patches.
4. It took just two minutes to install the gold image. That’s much faster than the 15 minutes it took for a regular installation.

That’s It

If you’re not already using gold images, you should get started. AutoUpgrade makes them easy to create and deploy.

Happy patching!